Brides have 7-7-07 in their sights

Wednesday

It’s a safe bet that the 2007 summer wedding season will be one of the busiest ever — if not the biggest. .... 2 sidebars/breakouts at end of story.

It’s a safe bet that the 2007 summer wedding season will be one of the busiest ever — if not the biggest.

Now that the calendar officially says summer, it’s likely you’ll be traveling across the country or at least across town to see a friend or relative walk down the aisle during the next three months.

Thousands — and we mean thousands — of couples will tie the knot July 7 (read: 7-7-07), which Time magazine deemed the biggest wedding date ever because of its “Lucky 7” number combination. TheKnot.com, a wedding planning and social site, has about 38,000 couples set to wed July 7, compared with the typical 12,000 couples marrying on Saturdays in July, according to the site.

Some other trends you’ll be seeing in churches and reception halls this summer:

The Day

Linda Slabaugh, owner of Glamour Jewelry & Bridal in Rockford, is working with four brides getting married July 7.

Beve Robinson, owner of One Stop Wedding Shop in Loves Park, is handling three weddings that day.

“It’s the hottest wedding day of the year,” Robinson said. “It’s hard to describe how popular it is.”

Wal-Mart and Six Flags are entering the game, doing big, blow-out events with adventurous couples July 7. Celebrity lovebirds Eva Longoria (ABC’s “Desperate Housewives”) and Tony Parker (NBA’s San Antonio Spurs) are even tying the knot that day.

Robinson said in addition to the popularity of the day, more couples are planning wedding after-parties, as in continuing to celebrate after the reception. Couples are booking jazz, mariachi and tropical bands and sipping cocktails until the wee hours of the morning.

“It’s midnight and people aren’t ready to go home yet,” Robinson said.

The Dresses

Robinson said designs by Maggie Sottero, Provonias and Private Label have been popular at her store this season.

Target is getting into the wedding game, thanks to designer Isaac Mizrahi. The store is selling everything from gowns (most retailing in the $160 range) to bridesmaid dresses and veils.

Slabaugh has several wedding gowns at Glamour with hints of color, such as a white beaded dress with a blue sash that matches accompanying bridesmaid dresses.

Robinson said summer 2007 is seeing a resurgence of 1950s-style princess dresses with embroidery and lace.

“Strapless has been around forever, but brides today are requesting some type of sleeves or a halter,” Robinson said. “The dresses trumpet at the bottom, showing off the curves. Brides want to show off their bodies.

“They used to want simple, but not anymore.”

Brides are continuing to pick the color of their bridesmaids’ dresses but allowing bridesmaids to choose the style, Robinson said. Same with jewelry.

“Our bodies are so different,” Robinson said. “This lets the bridesmaid pick a style to fit her. And it’s one less thing the bride has to worry about.”

Bold colors are popular, like burnt orange, and metallics for accessories. Brides are also going with black for bridesmaid dresses because it flatters multiple body types.

“Bridesmaid dresses are less about puffy sleeves,” Robinson said. “Designers are making them simple so women don’t have to spend $300 on a dress they can’t wear again.”

The Rest

Slabaugh said destination weddings continue to be popular. And eco-friendly “green” wedding trends, from using recycled paper for invitations to couples leaving the reception in a hybrid car, have been highlighted in the media and on TV shows like “Days of Our Lives.”

Contact Melissa Westphal at mwestpha@rrstar.com.

WIN THESE WACKY WEDDING CONTESTS

- One Web site is taking the idea of thrifty wedding wear to a new level. Cheap-chic-weddings.com is hosting its Third Annual Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest through July 31.

Participants can use only toilet paper, tape and glue to make the dresses, and the winner takes home $500. Catch is, you have to send in digital photos of you or your model IN the dress.

- One Stop Wedding Shop is putting a little humor into this year’s wedding season.

The shop is looking for the best (or worst) Bridezilla story, the most outrageous wedding moment and the most unique proposal.

E-mail your stories to bridezilla@1stopweddingshop.biz. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. Check back to onestopwedshop.com to see if your story is published.

The public can vote on the stories, and weekly winners will be eligible for the grand prize of a vacation for two.

BEING A BRIDESMAID HAS ITS BENEFITS

When I set out to write this story, I didn’t realize just how trendy my 2007 summer wedding season would be.

And I’m not even the one taking the big trip down the aisle. Three of my best friends are taking the plunge starting next month, and since May, the weekends have been and will continue to be filled with bridal showers, bachelorette parties and the weddings.

I’m a bridesmaid in two of the weddings, and that’s where the trends are really obvious.

For both weddings, the brides were kind enough to let us girls pick out our dresses. They decided on the color, which turned out to black for both.

I think that’s a great idea for brides, like Beve Robinson from One Stop Wedding Shop said. It’s one less thing they have to worry about, and it lets bridesmaids pick a dress that flatters their bodies and possibly fits their budget better.

Another trend I’m part of is the destination wedding. I’m traveling as a maid of honor for a November wedding that’s taking place on a cruise. That one gets bonus points, because I’ve never been on a cruise before.

I think the whole wedding-disguised-as-a-vacation thing could make all of the planning and stressing easier to swallow. I just need to remember to pack some sunscreen.

— Melissa Westphal

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